Mata mo awamu yoshi mo aranu ka shirotae no waga koromode ni iwaitodomemu

またも逢はむよしもあらぬか白栲の
我が衣手にいはひ留めむ

Roma-ji: Mata mo awamu yoshi mo aranu ka shirotae no waga koromode ni iwaitodomemu
English Translation: Is there no way, then,
we might meet with one another;
in these sleeves of mine,
white as spotless hempen cloth,
I will hold you, praying so
Meaning: Is there no way we might meet again? I will pray and hold you fast within my white sleeves.
Commentary: Book Four Love Poems 708

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Two poems sent by Awatame no Otome to Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi"
Wishing there were some way to meet again, she says she will hold him fast within her white sleeves by prayer. It rests on an ancient belief that one could call and keep another's spirit in one's sleeves.
The author, Awatame no Otome, was a woman of whom little is known who sent poems to Ōtomo no Yakamochi.

First line, "Is there no way, then," runs to six syllables: to meet again.
Second line, "we might meet with one another," uses the wishful nu ka: is there no means? The poem breaks after this line.
Third line, "in these sleeves of mine," is shirotae no, a pillow word for "sleeve."
Fourth line, "white as spotless hempen cloth," means in my sleeves.
Fifth line, "I will hold you, praying so," uses iwau, "to pray and keep oneself pure": I will pray and keep you there.
Author: Awatame no Otome
Source: Manyoshu
Prev Poem: Omoiyaru sube no shiraneba katamoi no soko ni zo are wa koinarinikeru
Next Poem: Yūyami wa michi tazutazushi tsuki machite imase waga seko sono ma ni mo mimu